Are you looking for some DIY backyard improvements? It is July. The weather is heating up, COVID-19 is surging in many parts the country, and most of us have majorly curtailed our summer plans. With this in mind, most of us are doing our best to social distance while still finding ways to maintain some level of normalcy in our lives. We enjoy the parks, go for nature hikes, take the kids fishing, and go on bike rides and more, but ultimately, we spend a lot of time at the house. And with the warm weather of course, we spend a lot of that time in the backyard! When it comes to sprucing up the backyard, if we were not motivated before, we definitely are now! Additionally, like most families right now, we are trying to be economical so DIY backyard ideas are appealing to us, plus we are improving the value of our home. In keeping with this theme, we put together a list of easy 8 DIY improvements you can make to your backyard this summer that you can enjoy well into the fall.

Install a Fire Pit If you have not already invested in an outdoor fire pit, now is the time! Summer evenings in the backyard are so much better with a crackle of a cozy fire pit. Bring together friends and family for a few cold ones and an evening under the stars, plus keep the bugs at bay and, more importantly, make some delicious s’mores!

Make the Fire Pit Inviting It is one thing to have the fire pit, it is another thing to make it inviting. Sure, you can move chairs around as needed, but consider setting up some legit lounge chairs. Make the backyard fire pit area a destination in your backyard and make that everyone’s new favorite hangout spot!

Create a Bar Sure, a cooler works, but why not create a real backyard bar! I like this idea because you can easily repurpose old furniture, pallets, or wood to create a cool outdoor bar area. Be sure to create shelves to store various bottles, glassware, and those all important bar tools.

Hang String Lights There is something about stringing white lights in an outdoor space—they make everything seem magical. String them from the ceiling of your pergola or along railings to create a welcoming outdoor paradise that comes alive at night. Do not forget to add Tiki torches around the perimeter of the lighted area to help keep pests away.

Put up a Hammock I love a good hammock! When hanging your hammock you will need about 10-15 ft. of space two trees (or objects) and you have to make sure your hammock has a loose curve so you can lie in it comfortably. This easy-to-install lounger is a great way to make your backyard even more inviting.

Light Up Your Trees Another way to create a magical look in your backyard is to wrap the base of your trees with white lights. A cluster of trees is ideal for this and will really add some nice pizazz. Remember not to overdo it, just a cluster or two is plenty, especially if you also have lights strung elsewhere.

Set Up Lawn Games You probably have some lawn games at this point but now is a good time to really up your game. Build a croquet area, setup cornhole boards, horse shoes, bocce, bottle bash, bean bag toss and more. The goal is provide variety and make it easy to get games started.

Add a Smoker to your Outdoor Kitchen At this point, you probably already have a grill and use it often! But consider upping your grilling game with a smoker. Think about it, few things are more inviting on a hot summer day than the smell of smoked ribs and brisket. It will give you one more great reason to spend the day in your backyard!

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